Deia Unpacked

This talk holds a special place in Tara's heart. Last Fall she had the honor of talking to an incredible young woman who landed in Deia during the Pandemic with her small baby. She’s a punk rocker, a documentary filmmaker, and a journalist, Hannah Brooks. After a long and arduous journey with addiction, Hannah and her partner were creating a life together here in Deia when her partner suddenly had a fatal relapse, not very long after their talk. It was for this reason that Tara was hesitant to release the talk, but after recently speaking with Hannah, they are both ready to share their talk, and Tara looks forward to having Hannah back on. Warning that we do discuss addiction.

In this episode Tara speaks to a man who is a writer, an intellectual, with an incredible gift for good conversation, and a fascination for Deia, David Holzer. In their talk, we learn about David’s journey with yoga and how it helped him to stop drinking, and his lifelong relationship with writing and books. This talk takes a lot of fun turns, covering everything from cancel-culture, to rock and roll, to goddesses and beyond. Warning that there is talk of drugs and alcohol use.

In this episode, Tara speaks to a dear friend, an expert canyoner who is fearless in the face of risk, Toni Calero. A warning to the listener that in the talk they speak about a serious accident that Toni had in November of 2021 while canyoning on the island. Though Toni continues to deal with the aftermath of a serious, nearly fatal accident, his ability to heal, his mental toughness and his determination, along with his continued training makes him somewhat of an outlier who illustrates how much the human mind and body can overcome.

In this episode Tara speaks to an iconic woman who has had deep roots in Deia, with a vast career in public relations, and who has spent years lifting up other women around the world, Lynne Franks.  In their talk we learn that Lynne launched her PR firm at a time when London was crackling with creative energy, a time when women were changing their dynamics at the grass-roots level.  An innovator with endless energy and ideas, Lynne’s reputation for understanding the current zeitgeist holds up in this fun and interesting talk.

In this episode Tara talks to a hard working man, competitive, compassionate, kind, and a natural born leader Thomas Moons, the General Manager of Hotel La Residencia here in Deia. In their talk we get a full update on all things La Residencia, including its remarkable successes and its wonderful offerings. Thomas gives us an insight into what it means to run one of the world’s top hotels, with a knowledge that ties excellent customer service to an excellent staff. Thomas’ commitment to being the best, his staff’s personal growth and well being, combined with his openness and ability to see the big picture, explains why Hotel La Residencia is one of a kind.

In this episode Tara celebrates the female energy of Deia with a remarkable woman who is known for her excellence and her hard work, Louise Fletcher Loni. In their talk we learn about Louise’s journey to becoming the owner operator of Mountain Wellness Mallorca, a successful business that encompasses a wide range of wellness services, including massage, beauty treatments, yoga, and most recently a high street hair stylist. A business entrepreneur who is juggling work, marriage and two small children, Louise gives us a look into the life of the working mom in Deia, and how community can mean everything to a young family.

In this episode Tara had so much fun speaking to an incredible native Mallorcan, he’s funny, super smart, full of knowledge and great ideas, Mountain Guide Martin Bestard. In their talk they cover everything from cleaning up trails, preservation, sustainable tourism, and all of the things that people who love Mallorca love to talk about. Martin’s love and respect for Mallorca, and his diplomatic approach towards tourism and protecting it, is endearing and important. Just a heads up that Tara uses some well aimed expletives so if you are listening with children, it could be a great teaching moment.

In this episode Tara had the pleasure of speaking with one of the woman painters on the island who is a risk taker, and an innovator in the art world, Natasha Zupan. In their talk, Natasha tells us about the times in her life when she had to reinvent herself as an artist in order to work within the contemporary framework. We learn that despite roadblocks she faced as a woman in the male dominated field of painting, she was able to find her own style with its unabashed feminine energy. There is so much more to painting than sitting at the canvas, it entails the logistics of packing and shipping large works to far flung places. Natasha’s intellectual and beautiful paintings are as inspirational as the artist herself.

Tara always says that every once in a while, life likes to throw out curve balls. The kind that upends you, and takes you on an unexpected journey whether you want it or not. Tara had the great fortune of meeting Antonio Navas through a common friend in Deia while recently on one of these journeys, and they sat down together in New York City to talk.  Antonio has had an incredible career in branding and advertising with some of the biggest names around the globe, and in their talk, we find out that amongst his many talents, one of his strongest is that of a philosopher with an enduring ability to find beauty in life. Listen to the end to hear Antonio recite the haunting poem Regardless, by Charles Bukowski.

In this episode Tara speaks to a man who is full of determination, hard work, and a deep passion for the game of tennis, Tennis Coach Director Ariel Nastasia. In their talk, we learn that tennis is a metaphor for the challenges of life, and that the game is so much more than a game. From Buenas Aires to Mallorca, Ariel’s journey as a top tennis player in Argentina, his experiences of learning from, and working with the best, as well as his passion for the game, has made him a sought after coach and mentor. Ariel’s warmth and relaxed sense of humor makes this a fun talk.